O. One Way

"T.H.E. R.O.C.K.S." Series

March 15th, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
John 3:14-21
 

Jesus says in the gospel of John, chapter 14, “I am the way. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  

Sin has separated us from our creator since the very beginning.  There is only ONE WAY back to the Father and Jesus is clear that he is the way.  We cannot find our way back to the Father on our own.  We cannot earn it, work for it, or stumble our way back into it.  That is why the journey back to God must go by way of the empty tomb.  Will you be at the empty tomb on Easter morning?

R. Rituals, Routines, and Rut

"T.H.E. R.O.C.K.S." Series

March 8th, 2015

Pastor Paul is preaching.
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15
 

Often times our journey with Christ begins with great vigor and focus, but the experience soon loses its luster and we find ourselves simply going through the motions.  

A few miles down the road of faith, those things that once drew us close to Christ now represent empty rituals, mindless routines and endless ruts.  The most dangerous part is that we hardly ever recognize them as such.  Sometimes the hardest rocks to drop are the ones in disguise.

E. Expectations

"T.H.E. R.O.C.K.S." Series

March 1st, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Mark 8:31-38
 

Now we are ready to begin the journey to the empty tomb.

 There is a problem though.  We have expectations of Jesus and he has expectations of us for that journey in our lives.  I call that the battle between human and holy expectations.  We are hoping and wishing for certain things along the way as well as for the outcome.  We have a limited human view of something that is divine.  Jesus is asking us to see things through his eyes as we take that glorious journey to the empty tomb this year.  

H. Hesitant

"T.H.E. R.O.C.K.S." Series

February 22nd, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Luke 9:57-62, Matthew 7:13-14
 

In this first Sunday of Lent we are on the journey to Jerusalem, the cross and ultimately and empty tomb.  

It is a journey that most people are not excited to take.  It means suffering, shame, pain, and many times sacrifice and self-denial.  Following Jesus is not easy and Jesus made it clear from the beginning that it wasn’t intended to be.  Jesus tells us that the gate that leads to destruction is wide and many will take it, the road that leads to life is narrow and few will find it.  We are hesitant to follow Jesus.

T. Turn Around

"T.H.E. R.O.C.K.S." Series

February 18th, 2015 - Ash Wednesday

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

In the text for Ash Wednesday the prophet Joel says that God tells us, “Even now, return to me with all your heart.”  

How does it happen in life?  How do we end up going in the opposite direction of God and his will for our lives?  God says that even now we can still return to him.  It is never too late.  We are never too far gone.  Will Lent 2015 be the time that you remember that you made the choice to turn around and return to God?

Surprise! You Get Out What You Put In

"Addition By Addition" Series

February 8th, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Luke 6:37-42 and Luke 9:23-24 (again)

If you work out once a month, you get a once a month body.  

If you eat healthy once a month, you get a once a month health.  The same goes for our faith journey.  If we only worship every once in a while, rarely read the Bible, pray sporadically, then we get a once in a while, rare, sporadic, faith.

Faith, it’s not supposed to be easy

"Addition By Addition" Series

February 1st, 2015

Pastor Paul is preaching.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Luke 9:23-24

There are many people that think once they give their lives to Christ life will become smooth sailing.  

Everything is just supposed to work out because they have a faith in Christ.  In fact, in many ways life can become much more demanding.  Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus ever tell us that faith is easy.  In reality it is the opposite.  If faith in Jesus Christ has been really easy our whole lives, what kind of faith is it?

A Before and After Life

"How Will They Know?" Series

January 25th, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Acts 26:1-29

There is no greater story in the world than one of a person transformed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ.  

A before and after story can change lives.  In the text today Paul explains to King Agrippa what his before and after life looked like in Jesus Christ.  The king must feel a tugging at his heart strings because he asks Paul if he is trying to convert him with his story.  Can people see a before and after story in your life?  It is a life that once knew Christ but now has Christ as Lord of their life.  How will they know?  They see your before and after.

No Matter Where, No Matter When

"How Will They Know?" Series

January 18th, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Acts 17:16-34

In the text today we hear that Paul is in Athens.

 Paul is filled with the great news of Jesus Christ and that is news that he cannot contain.  Right in the midst of Athens he tells them about Jesus.  Paul knew that no matter where he was it was the right place to tell the great news.  Paul knew that no matter what time it was it was the right time to tell the great news.  If we approach each day of our lives as the right time and the right place to share the good news we will always be ready.  Are you ready?

We Need More Workers

"How Will They Know?" Series

January 11th, 2015

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Romans 10:8-15

We just celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.  

The angels told the shepherds that there is great news, a child has been born.  That news is still great news in the time and place in which we now live.  The shepherds heard it because someone told them.  There are people that you encounter on a daily basis that have not heard the great news of Jesus Christ in their lives.  The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  We, as followers of Jesus Christ, are called to be laborers in the field.  How will they know unless someone tells them?  Will you be a laborer in the field in 2015?

Heart Transplant

December 28, 2014

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Galatians 4:1-7

Jesus Christ is now the word made flesh in the midst of our world.  

Paul describes in Galatians how that changes us from the inside out.  Christ has come to set us free from the Law that we might be children of God.  When that happens Paul says that God sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.  We are no longer slaves to the Law because we are children of God and also an heir.  Are you living the life of your inheritance?

Not a Silent Night

"Not A Silent Night" Series

December 24th, 2014 - Christmas Eve

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Luke 2:1-20

Birthing rooms sure have changed from back in the days when Jesus was born.

Now we have hot tubs, soothing music, multiple doctors and nurses to take care of you and rooms so beautiful you would think that you are at a spa or salon. It truly is a silent night. And then there is Mary and her birthing room. Jesus, in a feeding trough with animals of all kinds all around. It was definitely not a silent night. It was full of fear, uncertainty, pain, worry, anger, frustration, and darkness. Doesn’t that sound a lot like our lives today? AND THEN.................Jesus came into the world then and now. He is the remedy to all of those things. He is your remedy, your rescue plan today as much as he was back then. Will you make your way to the manger this year?

Mary, Full of Grace

"Not A Silent Night" Series

December 21st, 2014

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Luke 1:26-33

God throughout the Bible used the least, the lost, and the lowest to accomplish his mission of love, grace, and forgiveness in the world.

HOW? He filled the least, the lost, and the lowest with his grace and they could do anything. He used Moses to set the captives free. He used Joshua to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Jesus used tax collectors, fishermen, and prostitutes to reveal his grace in the world. Just imagine what God can do with you if you just let him. Mary, full of Grace gave birth to The King. You, full of grace......

Amazed, Astounded and Astonished

"Not A Silent Night" Series

December 14th, 2014

Pastor Paul is preaching.
Luke 2:41-51

We live in a world where many people know about Jesus but don’t really know Jesus.

In week three of Advent this year we will look at people who were amazed, astounded and astonished by the words of Jesus in the midst of their lives. When we allow the words of Jesus to penetrate our hearts we are then faced with a life defining moment. Who will Jesus be from that encounter on? Will Jesus be someone I know about or someone that has redefined who I am?

The Piercing of Mary's Soul

"Not A Silent Night" Series

December 7th, 2014

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Luke 2:33-35

As we reflect back to the day Jesus was crucified we remember that a Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side to make sure he was dead.

The grief of Mary, his mother, was the sword that pierced her soul. Jesus came into the world to not only be a baby born in a manger but to also be the Savior of the world. When we come to know Jesus Christ in our own lives personally, our hearts are pierced. We are convicted of our sinfulness and fully aware that there is only one way to be set free—a Savior who was born in Bethlehem. Has your heart been pierced yet?

Beginning At The End

"Not A Silent Night" Series

November 30th, 2014

Pastor Paul is preaching.
Acts 1:8-14

By beginning at the end of Mary’s journey, we launch this sermon series asking a rather unusual question, “How did Mary’s experience of Holy Week and Easter impact her perception of Christmas?”

Mary’s life would continue, even after Jesus’ death on the cross was undone by the empty grave, even after he ascended into heaven. Having witness her son’s life, and death and ascension, how would she remember that precious night when she delivered him into this world? How would his life and witness change the final years of her own? Journey with us through these questions and more, all through the eyes of Mary.

Hiding from Our Call

"Masks: What Are You Hiding From?" Series

October 26th, 2014

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ephesians 6:10-18

There is evil in the world and it is all around us.

Evil takes the form of poverty, racism, homelessness, lying, deceit, cheating, infidelity, just to name a few. Many people choose to hide from all of those things because then we do not have to deal with it. We shield our eyes and our lives in order to hide from the call on our lives to do something about it. Do our hearts still break for the same things that break the heart of God?

Hiding from Ourselves

"Masks: What Are You Hiding From?" Series

October 19th, 2014

Reverend Dan is preaching.
1 John 1:5-10

At times we lie to ourselves about our need for Christ when we believe that we are not sinners and that our lives our perfectly put together. 

We convince ourselves that we are not broken or that if we are then all we need is ourselves to put the pieces back together. If we lie to ourselves long enough we actually start to believe it. How can we step out of the darkness and get into the light again?

Hiding from Each Other

"Masks: What Are You Hiding From?" Series

October 12th, 2014

Pastor Paul is preaching.
John 4:4-18, 27-30

Not only does our sin create barriers between us and God, it creates barriers between us and others in our Christian family.

Convinced that we must always appear to “have it all together”, we hesitate to open up about our own struggles. For the woman at the well in John 4, an encounter with Jesus finally granted her the freedom and courage to stop hiding behind her life of sin. Because of her courage, hearts were won and the entire community was transformed. What might God do with the same level of courage in our midst?

Hiding from God

"Masks: What Are You Hiding From?" Series

October 5th, 2014

Pastor Paul is preaching.
Genesis 3:1-13

Our natural instinct when we fall into sin is to try to hide our brokenness from God.

We must realize, however, that the only way to find healing and growth is to first acknowledge one’s illness. We are plagued by sin. Let us learn from the mistakes made by Adam and Eve when they first encountered sin. We must not respond by running and hiding, but by drawing near our Lord and seeking His comfort and direction.